Well, I'm still waiting to hear news about my coming canine partner. The organization I'm working with was not expecting me to be done fundraising so quickly, so they were looking for a suitable match among dogs that will be ready six months from now instead of presently. It is difficult to be patient, but I want a good match, so I'm trying.
These thoughts bring me to the suggested tips for people who are looking toward service dogs today.
The first and most important is communication. Decide on a reasonable timeframe between contact attempts, and then call or e-mail on that schedule. I am choosing once a week, just to pleasantly ask how the search is going, and if there is a thing I can do to move the process along.
You do not need to feel uncomfortable doing this; it is your right as a paying customer. They have your money, and you want your dog...
Be flexible and understanding about their schedule, but also firm in the assertion that you need to be in that schedule somewhere as well.
Other things I am doing during this waiting time include studying my command list so that I will have a leg up when boot camp finally does start, watching and reading anything I can about service dogs, and observing dog training classes. Also, this is a good time to figure out what veterinarian you're going to use, if you need any special accommodations to take care of your dog independently (like an automatic dog feeder, etc.) and to set money aside for dog related expenses, even ones that don't seem obvious, like transportation to and from the boot camp locations.
Speaking of reading, I have a friend who lets her service dog borrow her computer periodically to write a blog about her job and daily life as a service dog. The dog is a surprisingly good writer; the content is very informative and often funny. You can find it here, along with links to more information:
And remember, good things do come to those who wait.
PS. For the curious, I don't think I'm going to allow my future dog to borrow my computer to contribute to this blog. I will confer with them and write on my own. However I may change my mind later. :-)
